Idyllic Bangalow and a Mason

For the past fifteen years, the idyllic village of Bangalow in the spectacularly beautiful northern New South Wales region has played host to a revered festival of chamber music that has become one of the most respected events on the classical music calendar. Curated by Brisbane group the Southern Cross Soloists, Bangalow has a reputation for attracting top international acts.

The festival is based in the historic and beautiful A&I hall from 1911, which boasts an ideal acoustic for chamber music making.

In this 2016 edition, artistic director Tania Frazer gathered a collection of artists headlined by Israel Philharmonic concertmaster Ilya Konovalov, baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes, pianist Kristian Chong, the Orava string quartet and flautist Lina Andanovska, along with the Southern Cross Soloists.

While the program is designed for indulgent escape for the audience as beautiful music is broken up only by chances to enjoy the superb local produce and restaurants and take a walk through the beautiful countryside, it is certainly not relaxing for the artists who performed nine concerts in three days.

Mason & Hamlin are proud to have been the official piano of the festival and it was certainly worked hard, featuring in 24 works over the weekend, displaying its versatility as it went from orchestral participant in Copland's Appalachian Spring, to romantic hero in solo music of Rachmaninov and a piano trio by Brahms, to prepared piano in new works by Connesson and concerto soloist in the Elvira Madigan concerto by Mozart.

Once again Mason & Hamlin are the choice of Australia's leading musical events. We look forward to returning as partner in 2017.